What Does CPR Stand For?

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

July 23rd 2015

We’ve all heard about it but what does CPR actually stand for?

CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and is one of the fundamental techniques used in first aid to resuscitate someone in an emergency situation. It is also one of the most important techniques to get right which is why we put so much importance into our CPR Training courses and CPR refresher courses.

The actual development of the CPR technique originates from back in 1956 when Mr Peter Safar and Mr James Elam developed the mouth-to-mouth technique. The following year this technique was used in the American Military to resuscitate soldiers.

Mouth-to-mouth was used to assist in getting oxygen back to the brain.

Flash forward to 1960, the American Heart Foundation took the technique one step further by incorporating chest compressions to get the heart pumping to get more oxygen to the brain.

Left: History of CPR (click to enlarge)

Sources: American Heart Association, Journal of the American Medical Association, Laerdal Medical

The initial technique has been varied and modified from its initial form but the principal of resuscitation has remained the same with emphasis being on getting oxygen back to the brain to get the body functioning.

In order to learn these life-saving CPR skills, it is recommended to complete a course through a reputable organisation such as First Aid Accident and Emergency.

Our qualified FAAE team are all experienced instructors with hands-on experience out on the field as well as in the First Aid classroom. In addition to teaching CPR and First Aid Courses, our instructors are constantly training and up-skilling to ensure that they are providing students with the latest and approved first aid information.

At First Aid Accident and Emergency we offer a large variety of First Aid courses on the Gold Coast including CPR. If you would like any information on CPR courses or any of our other training courses, contact us today.